The environmental truth according to the mining industry

LOBBYISTS for Queensland's mining industry will from today trumpet the "true environmental health" of the Great Barrier Reef after a spate of concerted campaigns by conservation groups helped build opposition to major mine and port developments.

The 15 or 30-second television commercials from Queensland Resources Council quote figures from the Australian Institute of Marine Sciencethen points viewers to the state government's Reef Facts website.

QRC boss Michael Roche declined to say how much the campaign would cost, except it say it was a "fraction" of the millions being spent by environmentalist groups.